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A random acrylate copolymer with epoxy‐amphiphilic structure as an efficient toughener for an epoxy/anhydride system
Author(s) -
Zhao Fangqiao,
Fei Xiaoma,
Wei Wei,
Ye Weitao,
Luo Jing,
Chen Yaxin,
Zhu Ye,
Liu Xiaoya
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.44863
Subject(s) - epoxy , diglycidyl ether , thermosetting polymer , materials science , copolymer , thermogravimetric analysis , curing (chemistry) , thermal stability , composite material , toughness , bisphenol a , polymer chemistry , glass transition , polymer , chemistry , organic chemistry
ABSTRACT Toughening of epoxy resin by block copolymers containing an epoxy‐philic block and an epoxy‐phobic block is usually costly because of their complex preparation procedure. In this work, a novel, random epoxy‐amphiphilic copolymer (PHGEL), which combines an “epoxy‐philic” component and an “epoxy‐phobic” component, has been synthesized and evaluated as a potential toughening agent for a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A–based epoxy thermoset (EP). The curing behavior of the EP/PHGEL system has been investigated, and the results show that the hydroxyl group on the PHGEL chain can slightly activate the curing reaction. The mechanical testing shows that the toughness of the epoxy resin is improved by 294% when 4 wt % of PHGEL is added. Simultaneously, the tensile strength, elongation at break, and glass‐transition temperature are also improved. In addition, the thermogravimetric analysis shows that PHGEL has no obvious effect on the thermal stability of the epoxy thermosets. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134 , 44863.